Wheel supporting side member, including a spring mounting therefor



April 24, 1951 H. R. RANDLEMAN WHEEL SUPPORTING SIDE MEMBER, INCLUDING ASPRING MOUNTING THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1948 RANDLEMAN2,550,084

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 24, 1951 H. R.

WHEEL SUPPORTING SIDE MEMBER, INCLUDING A SPRING MOUNTING THEREFOR FiledApril 8, 1948 m M. n e H 0 v a m m M 8 3w M m A i-\kflwmwl.flkd-fi-ra I4 l EMWEmII/P m m; d F M n 4 0 7 m w n y n a H .J 6 B 3 M2 a 4 m F M w nApril 24, 195] H. R. RANDLEMAN WHEEL SUPPORTING SIDE MEMBER, INCLUDING ASPRING MOUNTING THEREFOR '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1948 HarryRaymqnaf Rand/eman IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED PATENT O l Fl'C-E WHEEL SUPPORTING PSIDE-MEMBER, INCLUDING A SPRING MOUNTING THEREFOR r R mb i Bah m Bo' i ores.assignor of twelve and one-half per cent to Karl 'Feu'erhel'm, i RogueRiver, Oreg.

lxppiicationhiir'il s, leigsrm No. 19,828

'7 Glainis. I This invention relates to new and "useful improveineritsin wheeled frames such as trailers, and the "primary "object "6f thepresent invention is to provide a pair of wheelsupportingmembers andembodying novel 'and improved means for resiliently connecting thewh'eelsupporting members to the sides of a framework'to reduce the normal jaror shock prevalent asthe wheels carriedibythesupporting members rideover rough terrain or road surfaces.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a wheelsupport for trailer frames and the like including a novel" improvedspring mounting or shock absorber so designed 'astopjrovide the maximumcomfortable movement of a trailer and which is onstru'ctedtofacilit'at'ethe parts thereof to 'be quickly and readily repaired orreplaced in a convenient manner.

which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in "the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafterdes'cribed' and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein-likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in-whi'ch:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of 'a trailer frame and showingthe'pre'sent invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview taken substantiall'yon the plane of brok'nte'ction line 2'2 of Figure 1; 7 e Figure 3 is anenlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the 'plane'of'section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 isanfenlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the plane of section line l dofFigur-e 1; I U m Figure5 is a perspective view ofone of 'the'side members used inconjunctionwith-the present "invention;

Figurefi is a "fragmentary perspective *viewof the present invention in"Slightly" modified term axle orwheel supporting element 30. are carriedby the'elenient in any suitable (Oli280-124) applied to a trailer frame(shown on dotted lines);

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention instill further modified orm applied to a trailer frame (shown in'dottedlines) and Figure "8 is a group perspective view of the wheel supportshown in Figure '7' and showing the same separated.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numerals l0 and I2 represent a pair of elongated sidemembers having reduced andoffset end portions l4 thelower'edges l6 ofwhich are provided with a plurality of longitudinally "spaced notches orrecesses I8.

"Fixed by "any suitable means such as welding or the like to the innerfaces of the side members I U and i2 is'a pair of'sockets or sleeves 20that removablye'ng'a'ge the end portions of a tubular connecting member22.

The rear end portions 24 ofthe side members I-Dand l2 inclinedownwardlyand are formed 'with'notches 26 in which there is rigidlysecured a bearing sleeve 28 that rotatably supports 'an Wheels 32manner.

Thenumeral '34'represents a framework such asa trailer frame thatincludes a pair of preferably channelled side rails 35 which are spacedparallel to 'each other.

Fixedlysecured to the upperperiphery of the "s'ocketsiil, 'isa pair oranchor plates 38 that engage the lower legs 4a of the siderails 36.

Extending downwardly through aligned openings Q2 provided in th'eupperlegs and lower legs '40 of the'si'de rails 36 and through apertures 46provided in theanchor plates 38; is a plurality of ;bolts -48,'th'ethreaded ends 5% of which receivably engage lock nuts 52 to removablysecure the side members Hi and I2 to the Side rails 36.

Removably secured to the side rails at by bolts and nuts'or the like 54is'a pair'of base plates 56 that are fix'ed to substantially channelshaped guide [members '58 including bearing or guide plates- 60 havinglongitudinal guide slots 62 that slidably engage ha'ngerrods B4.

Bearing upon the plates fifi are removable closureplates fifi-carried bythe lower open ends 58 of a'pair'ofcylindricalhousings it. Theupper'en'ds 12 of the hanger rods-st are externally threaded toreceivably'enga'ge lock nuts it-that retain pressure plates 16positioned on the hanger rods- 64.

provided in the rod I30. I inserted into aligned openings I32 and I34 tohold The lower ends of the hanger rods 64 are integrally formed withloops or eye members 82 that engage the reduced end portions I4 of theside members I0 and I2. The lower edges 84 of the eye members 82 areselectively received in the notches I8 in the lower edges of the endportions I4 to retain the hanger rods 64 spaced at a predetermineddistance from the sleeves 20.

In order to brace the bearing sleeve 28 to the wheel supporting element30, there is provided a plurality of substantially triangular connectingplates 66 that are fixed to the bearing sleeve 28 and the end portions24 of the side members I0 and I2.

Reference is now directed to Figure 6, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed the present invention in slightlymodified form.

In this embodiment, the numeral 88 represents a pair of side membershaving upwardly inclined end portions 90 to which there is fixed stubaxles 92 that are braced to the end portions 90 by rigid plates 94.

Removably secured by fasteners or the like 06 to the side rails 98 of atrailer frame is a pair of anchor plates I00 that fixedly supportcooperative bearing sleeves I02.

Fixed to the side members 88, are the terminals of a connecting rod ortubular member I04 that engages the bearing sleeves I02.

The notched lower edges I06 of the forward ends I08 engage the eyemembers 82 of the aforementioned spring mounted hanger rods 64- whichare positioned in the housings I0. These housings 'IO bear upon anchorplates I I0 having longi-' tudinal slots I I2 that slidably engage thehanger rods 64. The plates I I0 are removably secured to side rails 98by fasteners or the like II4. It

is noted, that springs I8 and 80 are disposed within the housings I0 tofunction as previously described for that embodiment disclosed inFigures 1-5 of the drawings.

Reference is now directed to Figures 7 and 8, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed the present invention in still furthermodified form. In this embodiment, the numeral which there are fixedstub axles I20.

Rigidly secured to the side members III; are the outer ends of a pair oftubular open ended members I22 and I24 the inner, aligned ends I26 andI28 of which receive a connecting rod I30. One end of the rod I30 issuitably fixed within the end I28 of the member I24. The end I26 of themember I22 is provided with a plurality of openings I32 that registerwith selective openings I34 A holding pin. I36 is th members I22 and I24longitudinally adjusted relative to each other.

Removably secured by fasteners I38 to the side rails I40 of a suitableframe, is a pair of anchor plates I42 that rigidly support bearing andholding sleeves I44 which engage the members I22 f and 24.

A resilient connection designated generally by the numeral I46 connectsthe end portions I48 of the side members II6 to the side rails I40. Theresilient connectors I46 are constructed in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention and includes the elementsshown best in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Having described the invention, what is claimed. as new is:

1. In a supporting frame including apair of side rails, a wheel supportcomprising a pair of side members, a wheel supporting axle carried bysaid side members, a pair of guide plates carried by the side railshaving longitudinal slots, spring housings slidably carried by the guideplates, hanger rods positioned in said housings and slidably received inthe slots, pressure plates carried by the hanger rods, spring meanspositioned in the housing engaging the pressure plates and normallyurging the hanger rods to a raised position, means connecting the hangerrods to said side members, and further springs means limiting thedownward movement of said hanger rods.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said further spring means includescoil springs embracing said hanger rods and normally spaced relative tothe pressure plates.

3. In a supporting frame including a pair of side rails, a pair of sidemembers, sockets carried by the side members, an elongated connectingmember having its ends mounted in the sockets,

means for securing the sockets to the side rails, a pair of stub axlescarried by the side members, and a resilient connection between the sidemembers and the side rails, said resilient connection between the sidemembers and side rails including a pair of spring mounted hangers havingeye terminals slidably receiving said side members, and notches providedin said side members for selectively receiving said eye terminals.

4. In a supporting frame including a pair of side rails, a wheel supportcomprising a pair of side members, a wheel-supporting stub axle pro-.lecting laterally from each of said side members, a pair of guidemembers fixed to the side rails, a pair of spring-mounted hangersslidably carried by said guide members, means adjustably securing saidhangers to said side members, and connecting means between said sidemembers. 5. In a supporting frame including a pair of side rails, a pairof side members spaced relative to said side rails and including wheelsupporting axles, a pair of base plates secured to said side rails andhaving longitudinal slots therein, hanger rods slidably received insaid. slots and connected to said side members, a housing for each ofsaid hanger rods, said housings having lower open ends, closure platesat the lower open ends of said housings restin upon said base plates,said closure plates having central openings receiving said hanger rods,pressure plates mounted on said hanger rods and received in saidhousings, coil springs surrounding said hanger rods and biased betweensaid closure plates and said pressure plates to retain the hanger rodsraised relative to said base plates, further coil springs embracing saidhanger rods and supported on said closure plates to engage said pressureplates during downward sliding movement of said hanger rods relative tosaid base plates, a connection between said side members, and means fordetachably securing the side members to the side rails.

6. In a supporting frame including a pair of side rails, a wheel supportcomprising a pair of elongated side members having first and second endportions, stub axles projecting laterally from the first end portions ofsaid side members for supporting wheels, means adjacent the first endportion of said side members for attaching the side members to the siderails, guide members secured to the side rails and having longitudinalslots therein, hanger rods slidably received in said slots and connectedto the second end portions of said side members, and spring meansyieldingly retaining said hanger rods in a raised position.

'7. In a supportin frame including a pair of side rails, a wheel supportcomprising a pair of elongated side members having first and second endportions, stub axles projecting laterally from the first end portions ofsaid side members for supporting Wheels, sleeves secured to said siderails and disposed transversely of said side rails, an elongatedconnector terminally secured to the first end portions of said sidemembers, said connector being journally received in said sleeves forsupporting the side members relative to said side rails, elongated guidemembers mounted on said side rails and having longitudinal slotstherein,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 819,302 Munsing May 1, 19061,156,909 Koeb Oct. 19, 1915 1,281,233 Van Geert Oct. 8, 1918 1,316,369Laisne Sept. 16, 1919 2,227,762 Ronning Jan. '7, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 225,116 Germany Aug. 15, 1910 418,268 France Dec. 5,1910

